With the first round of tests taking place here at Purdue, I have mostly substituted caffeine and sugar for sleep. While this leaves me feeling great at the time, the few days following the study binges feel as though someone hit me with a semi-truck. These extreme highs and lows got me thinking about healthy ways to maintain my energy while studying, and avoiding caffeine or sugar crashes when the lost hours finally catch up to me. Here's what I found out.
1. Drink tea instead of coffee.
Freshly brewed tea is a calorie and sugar-free substitute for coffee and energy drinks. While it is true that black tea only has 15-70 mg of caffeine compared to 95-200 in a cup of coffee (see MayoClinic ratings), with much less sugar and fat than most coffee drinks, you could hypothetically drink tea all day.
2. Drink plenty of water.
Your body needs multiple glasses of water per day. With more than 60 percent of your body being made up of water, drinking lots of water helps maintain the fluid balance in your system. Many health blogs like Greatist have written about water's ability to improve focus and energy levels in the body.
3. Eat protein.
Protein is a huge source of fuel for the human body. If we eat foods with high protein content we will provide our body with weapons to fight fatigue. Because proteins takes longer than carbohydrates to be broken down by the body, the energy they provide your body lasts longer.
4. Snack periodically.
Eating small snacks throughout the day will prevent your blood sugar from falling too low and making you feel lethargic.
5. Sleep.
Although studying for 22 hours straight may help some people do well on their exams, the best way to replenish your energy is to let your body rest. I often have trouble doing this myself, but sometimes it is more beneficial to quit around midnight and get a solid night of sleep instead of using that time to cram.
As an avid abuser of coffee and caffeine pills, I understand how hard it is to try to use healthier alternatives. The smaller the amount of caffeine, the better it is for your brain. These alternatives might even cause you to do better on your exams than expected.
